By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — A six-year Caribou city councilor, and 35-year co-owner of the iconic Goughan’s Berry Farm, “Farmer” Mark Goughan is no stranger to the Caribou community, which he is hoping to represent in the Maine State House of Representatives.
“Seven years ago, I took a seat at the city council and, for the next six years, tried to represent the philosophy of smaller, caring government with less taxation,” Goughan explained. “I would like to take this same effort to Augusta and represent the people of Caribou.”
An Independent candidate, Goughan has created his own “party platform” focused on small government, fiscal conservatism, personal liability and responsibility, economic freedom and rule of law. During tenure as a Caribou city councilor, Goughan sought to achieve these same objectives and voted accordingly.
“It’s not hard to say ‘yes;’ the difficult part has been to say ‘no’ to both friends and foes on issues that they believe are important,” he explained.
Goughan’s goals include helping to create economic growth in Maine’s smaller communities.
“Government should be supportive of small business, not smothering it,” Goughan explained. “Governments need to bring the spending side of the balance sheet down to match our revenues to help with economic growth and employment.”
“Future legislatures must decide which state spending is most important and align that with revenue,” he added. “Government cannot be the answer to everything; raising fees and taxes is not the answer.”
Building up a successful farm from scratch over the past 35 years with his wife, “Farmer” Gloria, Goughan believes that government would be better served if more businessmen and women became actively involved in the political process.
“In today’s world of regulations, taxation and the absence of defined rule of law, it’s the politics of government that stack the deck against us from achieving our potential growth,” Goughan explained. “Most of us in the private business sector know what has to be done because we have been forced to do it in our lives and businesses.”
He also believes that successful private sector “survivors” convey traits such as foresight, ambition, life-long hard work, prudence and good judgment — all qualities that contribute to a healthy government.
“Small businesses are truly the backbone for rural development,” Goughan explained. “Over the past decade I have found that government has been a large impediment to our businesses; taxes and regulations have gotten to the point that it’s almost not worth the effort.”
“I want to try and change the trend,” he added.
As Goughan believes in a smaller, caring government, he also understands that helping those in true need will help generate a higher standard of living for all; he does caution, however, that helping those not in need “will bankrupt us all.”
“Because we are a caring people, this must be reflected in our state policies,” Goughan stated.
Goughan and his wife run Goughan’s Berry Farm with the help of their three daughters, and is extremely proud of the fact that their daughters and their families are willing to take on the hard work and responsibility of owning and operating the family’s small Caribou business.
